We picked up Charles Tucker's visa around 12:00 p.m., called Dee and my mom to make flight arrangements, thirty minutes later... we had our flights to go HOME!! Hard to believe this was the day Charles Tucker would have to say goodbye to all he knows.
I managed to get some pictures after our visa appointment, while we waited on David to pick us up. He loves "fowers"...
After we dropped off a gift for our lawyer, we headed to the babies home to say goodbye. How do you thank someone who loved and cared for your child for eight months??
The least I could do was to give each one a small gift and a big hug. So we rode up to the babies home for the last time. Handed out gifts and brought treats we had made earlier in the day for all the aunties and uncles to eat. It was a sweet special time to thank them all for loving Charles Tucker. Sweet Mama Sarah said a prayer over him right before I left...tears streamed down my face...it was such a special moment I will never forget. These are just some of the aunties and uncles who loved on him. Many were not there, because it was in the middle of a holiday week.
Two of our favorites, Victor and Agnes...
It was hard to believe we were saying goodbye to this babies home, one I had seen in pictures for months, and now played in for the last several days, and now leaving for maybe forever. I felt sad he would never play with his buddies again or see these precious aunties and uncles who he seemed attached to, who loved him very much. It's a lot to take in. Ultimately, I know he belongs in our family and he will best thrive as our son. As hard as it was for us all to say goodbye...the aunties and uncles know it is not best for him to stay, it is God's will for him to be in a family, with a mother, a father, and brothers and sisters. It is best for him to become a son.
After saying goodbye, we left with Maria, Shannon, Eric, and Alyosha to all go eat at the Greek resturaunt at the bottom of the hill. Maria is a 19 year old (it was hard to believe I am 13 years older than her...I could be her mother!) volunteer at the babies home for the next six months until she returns to Germany for college. Such a sweet heart...
Shannon and Eric were also adopting from our babies home. They had been in Uganda for a day longer than us, but had to stay five days longer to finish some last minute details to finally get Alyosha's visa. They are a missionary couple who have been living in Indonesia for the last two years and are traveling back to the States to stay...at least for a couple of years. So on their way home, they decided to stop by Uganda and pick up their first child! Go to We, A Great Parade to follow their journey back home in Texas!! Praise God they arrived in the states on January 6th, 2011 as a family of three!! Love you guys!!
We had to eat really fast, because we had 45 minutes to finish packing and head toward the airport. I raced back to the guest house to give CT a bath, shoved everything else in our bags, maked sure they each weigh 50 pounds, and jump in the car in time to make our flight. They recommend you be at the airport three hours before your flight. So, I said goodbye to the Latore family, Patrick, Auntie Julie and jumped in the car while David drove us for the last time. It wasn't too sad saying goodbye to Davd, because he is hoping to come to American in February...so hopefully we will see him again soon. (Look who's behind us on the wall?? Museveni..he is the president of Uganda and he is running again for office...some people like him, but others hate him. These posters cover every inch of the city...it is only fitting he would be in my last picture outside of the airport before boarding to go home!)
We checked our bags with no problems and just hung out for the next three hours looking at duty free nicknacks, candy, and alcohol.
When Charles Tucker saw an airplane for the first time...he was in "Ahh..." All he kept saying was..."big airplane, big airplane"...it was so cute...
Pretty much the minute we got on the plane...he was out and slept for the whole 8 hour flight! I slept 6 of those! What a blessing!!
We arrived in Belgium early in the morning....There was a really cool kid area, so we hung out there for a couple of hours...he had the best time!
A couple of hours later, we boarded our plane for Chicago...(see our plane in the mirror??)
After we played with stickers, bandaids, colored, had snacks and watched Aladdin...one little fussy boy finally settled down and he fell asleep...
The next thing we knew we were in Chicago...then on a flight to Atlanta to see our family!!!!
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Thank you for your encouraging words!